Berry Quinoa Breakfast Bake

And just like that, it’s July. Which means, next month is August. Which means, summer is passing by way too fast and I’ve not yet fully maximized the summer berry recipe potential on this blog.

For this recipe, we’re bringing quinoa to the breakfast table just like I did for this banana hazelnut quinoa and these carrot cake quinoa bowls. For those new to this breakfast quinoa phenomenon, we’re talking about quinoa as a sweet, not savory, dish.

Sure, quinoa is a great rice substitute, and it’s wonderful in burgers and salads. But when sweetened with maple syrup and mixed with creamy almond milk, the result is a super satisfying and hearty porridge.

This time around, I experimented with baked quinoa. I took the concept of baked oatmeal, and simply replaced the oats with quinoa. To the quinoa and milk base, I added mashed banana, which acts as a thickener and gives this dish a wonderfully familiar banana bread taste, and plenty of sweet and juicy berries. All berries are welcome. Pick your favorites!

Once all is mashed, mixed, and added, pour the mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 20-30 minutes. I suggest checking the dish at the 20-minute mark. You’ll want to pay attention to the texture of the quinoa. According to The Kitchn, once the quinoa is cooked, “you should see tiny spirals (the germ) separating from and curling around the quinoa seeds.” In other words, the quinoa should have expanded and developed a fluffy texture.

Once cooked, let the dish sit for 5-10 minutes to firm up. Unlike a lot of baked oatmeal dishes, you won’t be able to slice this baked quinoa. Instead, grab a large spoon and scoop a heaping portion into a bowl or plate. Top with more berries, coconut whipped cream, and some nut or seed butter if you so desire.

This dish will serve a crowd if you have guests this summer. Or if making just for your family, there will be plenty of leftovers to reheat for a quick, on-the-go breakfast later in the week.

Take advantage of berry season with this wholesome Berry Quinoa Breakfast Bake!

Prepare the mixture: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine the quinoa, cinnamon, and stir. In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla and almond extracts, mashed bananas, and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Gently stir in the fruit. Add the mixture to a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Bake the dish: Place in the oven to bake. Check at 20 minutes. If the quinoa is still crunchy, place back in the oven and check in 5-minute increments until the quinoa is tender.